Novato, California

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Oct 1

Written By Rachael Dressler - Sonoma and Marin County Realtor

Oak Tree at the Vintage Oaks Mall in Novato, California — Novato is a city of about 53,000 at the northern end of Marin County. Novato is known for its golden hills and valleys covered in oak trees.

Oak Tree at the Olompali State Park in Novato, California — 1. History
If you are interested in the history of Novato, check out Olompali State Historic Park. Olompali means “southern village” or “southern people” in the Miwok language. This park contains evidence of the Miwok people’s village which they inhabited at this location for more than 6,000 years, right up until the early 1850’s. Olompali contains “kitchen rock”, which is a large boulder that was used as a mortar to grind acorns and seeds into flour for cooking.

A stack of books at the Novato Unified School District in Novato, California — 2. Schools

Novato students attend the Novato Unified School District. The school district has seven elementary schools, three middle schools, two high schools, and a public Waldorf charter school. All students within the Novato Unified School District work towards the 6 C’s: Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, Conscientious Learner, Cultural Competence and Character.

Hopmonk Beer Garden in Novato, California — 3. Restaurants, Shopping, Things to do

Novato has a lot of open space, making it the perfect destination for hiking and mountain bike riding. Visit Mount Burdell Preserve for amazing views and miles of hiking and bicycle trails. Another interesting thing to do in Novato is horseback riding. Morning Star Farm is an equestrian facility located next to the Novato Creek which offers lessons, camps, birthday parties and more.

Novato has some fantastic restaurants. The Hopmonk Tavern is located in the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center. Hopmonk has both amazing food and drinks as well as live music. The Vintage Oaks Shopping Center has a Target, Costco, Old Navy, Nordstrom Rack, and many other favorites. Have you ever tried Peruvian food? It is absolutely fantastic and can be found at Ayawaska Hilltop. Try the Lomo Saltado Clásico, my favorite, and enjoy the views from the spectacular hilltop location.